Should I Continue To Be a Shafi‘i in a Hanafi Dominant Country?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I am a new Muslim and have been following the Shafi‘i madhhab as this is what my friends in other countries follow. I have discovered that the UK is practically Hanafi by default. Do I need to change over to Hanafi or am I able to continue with Shafi’i even though it is difficult to find a teacher here?

Answer

Thank you for your question.

It is permissible for you to follow your school of thought as long as you are able to find access to the knowledge.

If you can’t find a teacher in your area, you can take free courses here at SeekersGuidance to cover the basics of Shafi‘i fiqh all the way to an advanced level of knowledge. This is the tremendous benefit and gift of online learning.

Of course, pray istikhara on the matter and follow your heart.

Please see the tips here about changing madhhabs:
Changing Madhhabs
Should I Change My School of Thought to Ease the Education of My Son?

For a basic class on Shafi‘i fiqh, see:
On Worship (Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj): Ba Fadl’s The Short Abridgement

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani 

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.